OMG! IT'S YAGARI!

I have some fixation on the man… it amuses me. So I thought, what the hell, I'll write some of this from his perspective.

So enjoy!

~Sins~

She wasn't what she seemed.

That was the first real thought I formed about this dhamphir, this Sanako. She wore a prim bun, but I'd seen the image of her naked silhouette. She was strong in front of her students, tender with Kaname, the older sister with Zero and Yuuki, and, according to Kaien, quite the rebel in high school. So who was she really? Everything I knew about her seemed to contradict something else.

She turned her head to look at me. "What are you thinking so intently about, Yagari-san?" She surprised me with a soft smile. "Have you even eaten yet?"

I had to think about it. "No."

Her smile widened. "Come with me, then."

She led me to Kaien's kitchen, and I hoped she wasn't going to make me eat what he had made. I mean, he is my friend and everything, but I'd rather not die from that stuff.

"Have a seat, Yagari-san," she instructed, snagging Kaien's pink ruffled apron and donning it over her black dress slacks and crimson silk blouse.

She began cooking some European dish I was unfamiliar with. Whatever it actually was, it smelled wonderful.

Zero pattered in when it was almost ready, barefoot with his shirt half undone. "Sanako, what are you making?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her chest, which is more a feat than it sounds.

"Chicken alfredo. You want some? I'm a better cook than Kai-kun, I swear!" she laughed, and something about the expression on Zero's face made me think it was rare.

He smiled. "Sure." Then he turned to me. "Hello, Shishou. I take it she's cooking for you?"

I smiled back, astounded. I'd never seen him this happy. "Yeah. I think there's a mothering instinct in her that struck right after her second class ended." He nodded, his smile still not leaving. I had a feeling it had something to do with this particular young woman. She was vibrant and full of life. "So how have you been, Zero?"

"Busy, I guess. I'm still getting the odd call to chase down a Level E, but school keeps me busy aside from that. How about you, Shishou?"

I shrugged obscurely as Sanako plated the food. Stunningly enough, there was enough for three large servings. Something told me that if Zero hadn't come in when he had, there would have been a serving in the fridge for him. Interesting.

She placed a plate in front of each of us, then sat down next to Zero, across from me. "Eat it while it's hot. It's not nearly as good cold."

I dug in, as ordered. It was delicious, and I told her so.

She smiled slightly. "I made it a lot in college for my roommate, because she was fond of Italian food."

Zero made no remark, but ate it like it was wonderful. I kept up a light banter with her as we all ate, enjoying the food and the company. It was this school, primarily, that reminded me how much I liked people.

Kaien himself came into the kitchen a few moments later. "Fallen to her charms, Toga?"

"He fell to the promise of good food, Kai-kun. Seriously, must I feed everyone?" she asked jokingly.

He walked around and wrapped his arms around her in a brief hug before kissing the top of her head. "That hurts, Sanako."

"Open your mouth," she ordered.

He did as she commanded, which stunned and amazed me.

"Eat."

She lifted a fork to his mouth and he took a bite.

"Is it better than your cooking?"

He nodded, his chin lightly hitting her head.

"I rest my case." She glanced at her plate, which was still half full. "Want the other half of mine?"

"Yes," he replied, kissing her head again.

"Hey! You better not have gotten food in my hair, Kai-kun!" she pointed toward the chair next to mine. "Now sit, and I'll hand you my plate."

He did as commanded again and gratefully took the plate from her hands. "Seriously, Sanako, how do you do it? Everything I make turns out weird while everything you make turns out good."

A flush gathered on her cheeks. "I don't try to do more than I can handle. Simple dishes work best."

He nodded and began to eat with gusto.

"Is Yuuki-chan asleep?" Sanako asked, snagging a forkful from Zero's plate. Zero smiled at that, but kept eating.

Kaien nodded. "Like usual."

"She just missed the best food that ever came out of this kitchen, then," Zero replied.

Kaien began to pout.

"Kai-kun, it's not as effective after you've admitted it yourself," Sanako told him laughing before she kissed him on the cheek. "I'm getting tired. I'm going to bed," she announced, yawning.

I rose to my feet. "Might I escort the one responsible for a very fine meal to her room?"

A blush came to her cheeks, but she only half-smiled at me. "Sure."

She kissed the top of Zero's head and then Kaien's cheek, before wishing them a good night and heading out the door, while I followed close behind.

"You guys act like a family," I commented. "Kaien is the weird father, you as the oldest sister. But I don't exactly think Zero fits in that analogy."

Sanako shrugged. "He has a habit of trying to protect me, if that's what you mean."

"He looks at you like he loves you. And I mean as more than a sister."

She stopped in her tracks. "What on earth gave you that idea?"

"He hugged you. He's not big on displaying affection."

"I am," she replied. "That's how it started. I'd hug him, and his arms would hang there limply. Gradually, he began hugging me back, even occasionally initiating hugs to say hello or when he thinks I need comforting." She shrugged. "We're family, Yagari-san. A screwy, dysfunctional family, but a family the same. Were it true that he had feelings for me, he'd never let them come out when I am his sensei. You know how those things go."

"Unless he couldn't hide it anymore. And I think that as a teacher, you'd break his heart, even if you loved him as a woman."

She grimaced. "I would, if it would protect him."

Something tells me that it's not just him in love.

The next day, Yagari-san was gone. All that remained to ever say he was there was the note stuck on my bathroom mirror:

You're good for Zero, so don't leave him.

And if you love him, tell him. I'll protect that love with all I have, because in the end, he's my family, too.

Sincerely,

Toga Yagari

I felt tears stream down my face. He'd caught us both, but he approved of it. How did we get so blessed?

YAY for his verdict, no? That means they get to go back to their relationship! And he was only there one night!

LOL, hard at work on the next section, so review!